Billiard rack laser system for positioning a rack for a billiard game

ABSTRACT

A billiard rack laser system for positioning a rack for a billiard game includes a pool table having an alignment mark and a pool rack having a laser operably connected thereto such that when the rack is placed on the table, the laser is equipped to illuminate a beam which when directed at the alignment mark illuminates the same thereby indicates a proper spot of the rack for positioning the same on the table.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the billiards. More particularly, theinvention relates to an improvement in spotting a rack for billiards.

2. Related Art

Billiards requires the use of a table, set of billiard balls, cue ball,cue sticks, rack and bridge. Due to the competitive nature of the gameof billiards, it is desired to have a repeatable and precise location ofan initial rack. This precludes an unfair advantage for a player.

There is a need for providing a repeatable and precise initial rack fora billiard game. A typical billiard table includes a spot markphysically placed on the top surface of the playing table to identifythe location of the placement of an initial rack. This mark is intendedto coincide with the location of a lead ball inside the rack with theother playing balls disposed behind the lead ball within the rack.

The lead ball is placed on top of this spot mark and a remainder of theballs in the rack are positioned with respect to the placed lead ball byusing the rack. The player making this initial break must do so with thecue ball located in a permitted area and without crossing a line,usually an imaginary line, on the playing surface during the breakprocedure. Once the balls are set, the rack is removed and the game isbegun by placing a cue ball in the permitted area and driving the cueball into the set balls using a cue.

The use of the existing spot mark on the playing surface and imaginarylines has proved to be an inadequate method of assuring a repeatablerack. The lead ball is typically not placed in the exact same point onthe spot each time. Further, the rack may be slightly angled withrespect to a proper alignment of the rack. As a result, the rack willaffect the play of the balls upon the break of the balls. This is anundesirable result, particularly in competitive tournaments. The spotmark on the playing surface may affect the aesthetics of the playingsurface and give some players an advantage in lining up a shot.

By providing a conventional spot mark on the table surface, the playingsurface may tend to wear more at one end of the playing surface wherethe rack is always positioned. It is desirable to alternate play at bothends without there being any physical spot on the playing surface of thetable.

There is a need for an improved racking system for a billiard game thatdoes not require the use of a spot mark placed on or incorporated intothe top playing surface of the billiard table. There is a need for aracking system which provides for an accurate and a repeatable rack ofthe billiard balls on the surface of a billiard table which aligns therack as well as provides a temporary visual line onto the surface behindwhich the cue ball is disposed for purposes of an initial break.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object to provide an accurate and repeatable racking ofbilliard balls for a billiard game.

It is another object to provide a racking system which does not requirethe use of a spot mark placed on or incorporated into a playing surfaceof the billiard table.

It is another object to provide racking system for an accurate and arepeatable rack of the billiard balls on the surface of a billiard tablewhich aligns the rack as well as provides a temporary visual line ontothe surface behind which the cue ball is disposed for purposes of aninitial break.

It is another object to provide a racking system which does notinterfere with the overall aesthetics of the table.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a racking system,which includes a pool table having an alignment mark on a side of thetable; and a pool rack having a laser operably connected thereto suchthat when the rack is placed on the table, the laser is equipped toilluminate a beam which when directed at the alignment mark illuminatesthe same thereby indicating a proper spot of the rack for positioningthe same on the table. The laser can be activated by a biasing elementwherein a ball within the rack touches the element to cause theillumination of the laser beam. The rack can include one or more lasersin conjunction with one or more alignment marks on the table.

The laser can include a beam splitter thus providing a line across thewidth of the table to divide the table into areas where the balls are onone side a cue ball on another for the initial break. The laser beam(s)will be visible during the set up of the rack so placement of the rackwill be accurate and repeatable and permit the cue ball to bepositioned. Once the rack is removed from the balls, the laser isdeactivated.

These and other objects are achieved by the racking system will beapparent from the following drawings and description hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view of a racking system of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a top view of another embodiment of a racking system of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1C is a top view of yet another embodiment a racking system of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2A is a top view of a rack used in the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a top view of another rack used in the present invention.

FIG. 2C is a top view of still another rack used in the presentinvention.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the rack in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4 is a laser which is employed in the rack of the invention.

FIG. 5A is top view another laser employed in the invention.

FIG. 5B is a front view of the laser in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a top view of illustrating another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the racking system of the presentinvention is generally referred to the numerals 10, 100, and 200. Theracking system 10 includes a table 12 for playing a billiard-type gamehaving a playing surface 14 having a first end 16, a second end 18, afirst side 20 and a second side 22. The table 12 includes pockets 24.Alignment mark 15A can be oriented on the end 16, for example, half waybetween the sides 20 and 22. A plurality of billiard-type balls 26 and acue ball 28 are included.

The racking system 10 includes a rack 30. Operably disposed within therack 30 is a laser 32. The laser 32 can preferably be disposed within anend 34A of the rack 30 in a manner such that a beam emitting end 36faces outwardly from the rack end 34A such that when the laser 32 isturned on, a beam B is emitted at a 30° angle with respect to a side 31Aof the rack 30.

The laser 32 has an activating end 38 which includes a spring loadedswitch 40. When the laser 32 is operably disposed within a bored surface35 of the end 34A, the switch 40 extends into an area 42 confined bysides 31A, 31B and 31C. A lead ball 26A can be forced in to contact withthe switch 40 causing actuation thereof and thus the emission of thebeam B. Optionally, one or more line(s) L can be fixably disposed on thetable surface 14. The Line L is intended to serve as an alignment aidfor the back side 3° C. of the rack 30. Thus, together with the emittedbeam B directed at the alignment marking 15A, an accurate and repeatableracking can occur each time.

FIGS. 1B and 2B illustrates another embodiment 100 wherein, multiplelasers 32 can be incorporated into ends 34A, 34B and 34C. In thisinstance, alignment markings 15A, 15B and 15C can be provided on thetable 12 as shown, for example, to effect a proper alignment.

Still another embodiment 200 seen in FIGS. 1C and 2C can include a beamsplitter 202 which provides for a plurality of beams B and B′ to be usedon marks 215 to perfect alignment. In this instance, part of the beamsB′ can be used to define a cue line C such that the cue ball may beplaced for starting the game.

The laser 32 can include circuits and lenses known to the art and can beincorporated into a housing 37 which is configured to fit within thebored surface 35. It is understood that the laser 32 includes a powersource, such as battery, operably disposed within the housing 37. It isunderstood that while certain forms of the present invention have beenillustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to thespecific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment 300 of the invention, wherein alaser 32′ is disposed within a housing 50 which can be provided on oneside 22, for example, of the table 12. The laser 32′ can be activated bya switch 52 which extends through an opening 53 of the housing 50,wherein a beam B″ can be illuminated from an end 36′ of the laser 32′across the marks 215 for purposes of aligning cue ball 28 on an initialbreak or in the event of a scratch.

The above described embodiments are set forth by way of example and arenot for the purpose of limiting the present invention. It will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art that obvious modifications,derivations and variations can be made to the embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the claimsappended hereto should be read in their full scope including any suchmodifications, derivations and variations.

1. A billiard rack laser system for positioning a rack for a billiardgame, which includes: a pool table having an alignment mark; and a poolrack having a laser operably connected thereto such that when said rackis placed on said table, said laser is equipped to illuminate a beamwhich when directed at said alignment mark illuminates said mark therebyindicating a proper spot of said rack for positioning the same on saidtable.
 2. The billiard rack laser system of claim 1, wherein saidalignment mark is on a side of said table.
 3. The billiard rack lasersystem of claim 1, wherein said rack includes means for emitting aplurality of laser beams for positioning said rack.
 4. The billiard racklaser system of claim 3, which further includes a plurality of alignmentmarks on said table used in conjunction with said beams.
 5. The billiardrack laser system of claim 1, wherein said laser includes biasing meansfor activating said laser beam.
 6. The billiard rack laser system ofclaim 1, wherein said biasing means extends inside said rack to permitbiasing by a ball within said rack to cause the illumination of saidlaser beam.
 7. The billiard rack laser system of claim 1, wherein saidlaser includes a beam splitter.
 8. A billiard rack for use with a pooltable having an alignment mark, which includes: a pool rack having alaser operably connected thereto such that when said rack is placed onthe pool table, said laser is equipped to illuminate a beam which whendirected at the alignment mark illuminates the mark thereby indicating aproper spot of said rack for positioning the same on the table.
 9. Thebilliard rack laser system of claim 8, wherein said rack includes meansfor emitting a plurality of laser beams for positioning said rack. 10.The billiard rack laser system of claim 8, wherein said laser includesbiasing means for activating said laser beam.
 11. The billiard racklaser system of claim 8, wherein said biasing means extends inside saidrack to permit biasing by a ball within said rack to cause theillumination of said laser beam.
 12. The billiard rack laser system ofclaim 8, wherein said laser includes a beam splitter.
 13. The billiardrack laser system of claim 12, wherein said pool table has a pair ofalignment marks disposed on opposite sides of said table and said beamsplitter is equipped to split said beam such that when said rack isdisposed on said table said split beams can illuminate said sidealignment marks indicating a proper division line for spot of a cue ballfor positioning the same on said table.
 14. A laser system for abilliard system, which includes: a pool table having a pair of alignmentmarks disposed on opposite sides of said table; and a laser operablyassociated with one of said sides such that when said laser is equippedto illuminate a beam which when directed across said alignment marksindicates a proper division line for spot of a cue ball for positioningthe same on said table.